Full results and updates from KASAI Super Series in Dallas TX featuring Gordon Ryan vs Joao Gabriel Rocha!

The undercard matches are all six minutes long and use KASAI points (no advantages) with a judges decision if the match is a draw. 

Jorge Vasquez def Ryan Benoit via 7-2 – watch video

The two locals kicked off the show with a scrappy display of no-gi grappling that ended with a wince-inducing leg lock attack. Vasquez somehow gritted out a deep heel hook to take the win via points. 

Jessica Crane def Meghan Williams via RNC – watch video

Dallas-based grappler Crane ran through a series of positions before locking in a rear naked choke versus Meghan Williams of RGA Pittsburgh. 

Conrad Duran def Dillon Hinojosa via 3-2 – watch video 

A super energetic bout that saw Conrad Duran used sharp guard passing to rack up pass points against Dillon Hinojosa, although he had to fight off a series of ever-deeper heel hooks to get there. 

Jeff Horn def Leigh Macneil via 18-0 – watch video

The first gi bout of the evening featured two mature competitors, but the action was constant throughout– if a little one-sided. Jeff Horn racked up a huge 18 points to 0. 

Abdul Karem Al-Selwady def Dylan Kastelic 22-0 – watch video

A crosstown affair with Soul Fighters rep Abdul Karem Al-Selwady taking on Dylan Kastelic of Mohler MMA. The “Pride of Palestine” racked up a ton of points and nearly finished via rear naked choke. 

Kecia Makenzie def Nathalia Santoro via armbar – watch video

Gordon Ryan's partner / strength coach Nathalia Santoro showed great improvement in facing Checkmat Dallas grappler Kecia Makenzie, but the local employed an aggressive game buoyed by the vocal support of a raucous crowd to secure an armbar while down on points. 

Cameron Adair def Franklin Caballo via armbar – watch video 

Another Checkmat Dallas rep, Adair blew through Caballo in only 38 seconds, hoisting his opponent and sending him through the air before latching onto an  armbar. 

Thomas Gentile def Javier Zapata via unanimous decision – watch video

This battle of the big men came down to a referee's decision, although some members of the front row probably thought things would come to a premature end when the two 300lb'ers came flying off the stage toward them. Luckily the bout carried on and was decided based on takedowns. 

Diego Santana def Jairo Bautista via submission – watch video

Fighting out of Gracie Gym Texas, Santana aggressively played a guard game until he managed to zero in on the legs, whereupon he finished the fight. 

Dulces Flores Jr. def Bobby Alexander 11-2 – watch video

The AMBJJ brown belt Flores Jr. put the pressure on Travis Lutter rep Bobby Alexander to win via a solid points difference. 

David Hulsey def Benjamin Annunziato via heel hook – watch video

Hulsey could potentially win a submission of the night for his razor sharp heel hook. If he doesn't, he deserves an award for most colorful attire! Check out those spats...

Alan Shebaro def Sebastian Black via toehold – watch video

Alan Shebaro dived on a toehold and was able to finis Sebastian Black in only 39 seconds, one of the fastest submissions of the night. 

Camron Couch def Marcus Antelante 3-1 – watch video

Mohler MMA black belt Couch used excellent wrestling and serious hustle to put down Antelante, who was unable to adapt to his opponent's strategy and had no answer for his strengths. Couch's impressive workrate simply overwhelmed his opponent. 

MAIN CARD

Edwin "Junny" Ocasio def Vinny Saenz via heel hook – watch video

Junny Ocasio needed less than half of the 10 mins to work in this KASAI rules match, submitting Saenz in 4.22 via heel hook. Training out of Unity in NYC, Ocasio is a KASAI veteran and showed an improved leg attack game that allowed him to confidently isolate the legs and finish in clinical fashion. 

Lucas Valente def Rafael "Formiga" Barbosa via decision – watch video

Lucas Valente opened strong and Formiga did his best to pressure pass in the rest of the match but couldn’t solve the puzzle that was Valente’s guard. Tied 1-1, the judges gave Valente the nod after the 10 minutes expired. 

Alex Martins def Mike Medrano via 8-0 – watch video

I almost wasn’t able to write a recap of this match, because Medrano and Martins came perilously close to landing on our table and taking out our equipment! Save for the near-miss, this balanced match saw Martins try to work guard against the stocky Medrano but fall to secure a solid attack until 8 minutes into the bout, where he swept straight to mount and rode out the clock. A big win for the Dallas-based athlete-coach. 

Raquel Canuto def Chelsah Lyons via 5-1 – watch video

Marcelo Garcia Dallas black belt Chelsah Lyons did her best to latch onto a heel, but Canuto’s solid base and defense shut down the majority of the attacks, slowly grinding away at her opponent until she secured a pass late in the match. Lyons put Canuto into some rough situations but was a hair away from finishing the match. Canuto earned points via a takedown and a pass. 

Bruno Bastos def Tom Deblass via 3-1 – watch video

Given both Deblass and Bastos are two half guard specialists, it was no surprise the majority of the match would play out in their favored position. Deblass played exclusively from bottom when they went on the mat, and they remained locked in a stalemate for long periods hand fighting and looking for openings. The match was decided via a perfectly timed footsweep by Bastos midway through the five-minute overtime period which put Deblass down, giving him his third career win over Deblass. 

Aaron “Tex” Johnson def Ricardo “Demente” Abreu via 1-0 – watch video

“Let’s have fun, and don’t let me break your shit.” – that’s the warning Tex Johnson gave during his pre-fight interview, and he meant it. He went after Ricardo Abreu’s legs with a vengeance, cycling through a series of serious submission attempts. “Demente” had great base and pressure from top but Tex’s flexible guard proved tricky, with submissions around every corner. Abreu had to grit his teeth through a deep kneebar, which gave Johnson 1 point under KASAI rules. A very entertaining match which showcased the best of heavyweight jiu-jitsu. 

Andressa Cintra def Jessica Swanson via 4-2 – watch video

This gi match (using IBJJF-style rules) was an intricate affair. Swanson came close to catching an armlock, but Cintra simply toughed it out and went on to win two sweeps to one. 

Dante Leon def Matheus Lutes via RNC – watch video

Despite some confusing scenes toward the end of the match, Dante Leon secured a deep rear naked choke that ended the match after five minutes and 11 seconds. After feeling each other out with takedown attempts, it was Leon who advanced position thanks to a guard pull and sweep and later an inversion to the back. Lutes had a brain fart, talking to the ref to protest points while Leon was on his back with a body triangle. The moment Lutes turned his head to the ref Leon sunk in the choke. 

Though the ending was momentarily confusing there is no doubt as to the validity of Leon’s win, who was complimentary to his opponent in victory. “He’s tough as fuck, and stronger than he looks,” said Leon. *Update: Lutes posted after the match that he was indeed confused about the rules and "it cost me my neck". 

Renato Canuto def Marcio Andre via heel hook – watch video

If you had to predict how this match would look, you’d probably be exactly on the money: Andre working his flexible and versatile guard, Canuto probing for openings with cross steps, jumps, stomps and more. The match ran through to the final minute of the initial 10-min period with no score. 

Canuto kept an eye on the clock and dropped back into a heel hook position with around 60 seconds left. Andre tried to free his foot but Canuto kept control of the ankle and was able to secure the decisive heel hook. 

Gordon Ryan def Joao Gabriel Rocha 1-0 – watch video

Gordon tried footsweeping Rocha but it was like kicking a tree. When Ryan went forward Rocha used a whizzerkick style throw as a counter, sending them both down and off the edge of the mat and into the crowd. They traded sweeps in the 10-min first round, where no points were counted. Ryan settled into a strong attacking position from top deep half guard, but Rocha found a way out. 

Well, that escalated quickly... pic.twitter.com/8YprKYRXGj

— FloGrappling (@FloGrappling) February 3, 2019

In the 5-mins second round, where points were now active, Ryan entered under the legs and attacked for a solid heel hook, earning one point under KASAI rules for a dangerous submission attempt. Rocha came extremely close to passing Gordon’s guard in the last two minutes of the match and nearly securing control, but he was not awarded any points (none of the three referees indicated that he should, either). 

As the time wound down Rocha paraded around the mat at the end of the match as if he’d won. The crowd were vocal in their disdain at the result, arguing that Rocha deserved the points for the pass. He was visibly displeased with the result, using his post-match interview to say: “Gordon, thank you for the amazing fight but guys– tell me, who do you think won that fight?” 

Something significant to note is that Gordon’s knee popped “five or six times” at one stage during the match when he attempted to sweep his 263lb opponent. According to members of his team, this injury could keep Ryan out of action for some weeks and threatens his participation in upcoming events. 

Rya was humble in victory and obviously smarting from the injury to his knee: “All the props to Joao, he almost passed my guard two times. A tough match for sure, maybe we can do it again.”

Watch all of the KASAI Super Series matches here